Evan Ferguson can rewrite the history books tonight by knocking Robbie Keane off his perch.
The Brighton teen will become Ireland’s youngest ever goalscorer if he hits the net on his debut against Norway - or away to Malta on Sunday.
Ireland legend Keane set the record against Malta in October 1998, aged 18 years and 98 days.
Uncapped Ferguson would eclipse him at 18 years and 29 days tonight - or 18 years and 32 days in Ta' Qali on Sunday.
This is the first time that Ferguson has been called into the senior squad, having recently made his mark at Under-21 level.
But senior players have been blown away by his performances in training this week.
Ferguson is not expected to start tonight but Ireland boss Stephen Kenny said: “It depends on the games and what happens in the games. We rate him very highly.
"He’s a different profile to the strikers we have. He’s strong and aggressive in the air, he scores different types of goals, headed goals.
“He’s someone who has achieved a lot in his tender years. He has a chance of being involved but no guarantees at the same time.
“I wasn’t actually aware that he would become the youngest. Who is the youngest at the moment?
Told it was Keane, Kenny continued: “Robbie’s record, I thought so.
“Obviously Evan is very young and we’ll have to see how it goes between now and Sunday. There’s always the possibility he could be involved.
“He’s been training with Brighton’s first team for a long time now, and featuring sporadically, so I’m sure he’s used to the first-team environment.
“It’s only been a couple of days so it’s difficult to really judge but he’s a good personality.”
Ferguson made his Premier League debut for Brighton last season and Kenny added: “He’s one of four strikers in the squad.
“It is premature, he has come in early, he hasn’t played that many games for Brighton's first team.
“But we rate him highly. He has come through the underage international teams and he has been very, very good."
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